July 21, 2003	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 20, 1424

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KARACHI, July 20: Their fate still undecided, Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmad appeared on the opening day of the two-day hockey trials with two selectors missing on Sunday.

The pair went to Germany to play in professional league despite being refused permission by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). An inquiry committee has recommended one-year ban for the two for breaching the code of conduct.

Although the two players are a part of the training camp, their fate still hangs in the balance as the PHF is lingering on the issue and is yet to take the final decision.

PHF has not made an official announcement, but Sohail and Waseem, however, are likely to stage a comeback as it has been learnt PHF has decided to compromise on discipline by including them into the squad after mild penalties.

The trials are being held to select the squad for Champions Trophy to be hosted by the Dutch city of Amstelveen from Aug 16 where world champions Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, India and Argentina will be in fray.

However, only chief selector Akhtar Rasool and a member Hassan Sardar, PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan, who is a co-opted member, watched the three 35-minute sessions at Steel Mills ground.

Saleem Nazim and Saeed Khan, the two selection committee members, were not present as usual.

Ironically, Saeed has been appointed the selector the second time after he quit the same position earlier, saying he had no time for national duty.

It would not be out of context to say that the selection committee, on the suggestion of Hassan, also serves as ‘think tank’ which should go to schools to unearth talent.